Incentivized task completion using chance-based awards

ABSTRACT

A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to incentivizing task completion, forinstance, using chance-based awards and/or other approaches.

BACKGROUND

In typical games, users may be offered a reward or a chance to win anaward for performing a specific action to provide users with anincentive to perform the specific action. For example, when the award isof great value, users may be more likely to perform actions to obtainthe award. However, providing every user with an award of great valuewhen they perform a specific action may negatively impact other corebusiness metrics associated with the game. To mitigate such issues, somegames may offer a chance of winning an award of great value forperforming a specific action. Generally, a list of users that haveperformed the specific action may be provided to an administrator. Theadministrator may obtain a random subset of those users to declare thesubset of users as winners of the award, and then manually provide theaward to each of the users of the subset. Among other issues, such aprocess may be time-consuming, prone to human errors, and/or lacking ofconsolation prizes to encourage “non-winning” users to continue toperform such chance-based actions.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured tofacilitate incentivized task completion using chance-based awards, inaccordance with one or more implementations. In exemplaryimplementations, virtual chance items may be distributed to users thatcomplete a task responsive to these users completing the task.Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to beactivated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in thegame space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awardsand one or more secondary awards. Probabilities that the individualvirtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondaryaward upon activation may be determined to compose the virtual chanceitems. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordancewith the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in responseto the users activating the virtual chance items. Accordingly, usersthat completed the task may receive a virtual chance item that may, uponactivation by the users, provide them with a virtual award even whenthey do not “win” a primary award (e.g., the virtual chance item mayprovide them with a secondary award). As compared with typical games,such an approach may, for instance, reduce the amount of users that arediscouraged when they do not win, mitigate the level of discouragementwhen they do not win, increase the incentive to continue completingtasks in a game, and/or other benefits.

In some implementations, the system may include one or more servers. Theserver(s) may be configured to communicate with one or more clientcomputing platforms according to a client/server architecture. The usersmay access the system via the client computing platforms, for instance,to interact with one or more services.

The server(s) may be configured to execute one or more computer programmodules to facilitate incentivized task completion using chance-basedawards. The computer program modules may include one or more of a gamemodule, an item manager module, a completion determination module, anitem distribution module, an award administration module, and/or othermodules. In some implementations, the client computing platforms may beconfigured to execute one or more computer program modules that are thesame as or similar to the computer program modules of the server(s) tofacilitate incentivized task completion using chance-based awards.

The game module may be configured to execute an instance of a gamespace. The game module may be configured to facilitate presentation ofviews of the game space to users. The game space may be configured tofacilitate interaction of the users with the game space and/or eachother by performing operations in the game space in response to commandsreceived from the users. In some implementations, a game may be providedwithin the game space to users of the game space. The game may include atask to be performed by the users. The users may include a first user.

The item manager module may be configured to compose a plurality ofvirtual chance items. The virtual chance items include a first virtualchance item. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may beconfigured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtainvirtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one ormore primary awards and one or more secondary awards. In certainimplementations, the item manager module may be configured such that thevirtual chance items may be virtual goods. The virtual goods may bepurchasable and/or tradable within the game space. In someimplementations, the item manager module may be configured such that theprimary awards may be individually greater in value than individual onesof the secondary awards with respect to one or more criteria associatedwith the game space.

The item manager module may be configured such that composing thevirtual chance items may include determining probabilities that theindividual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or asecondary award upon activation. In certain implementations, composingthe virtual chance items may include assigning the determinedprobabilities to the individual virtual chance items. In someimplementations, the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance itemsmay be determined based on an amount of the users that complete thetask.

In some implementations, the item manager module may be configured suchthat, responsive to the amount of the users that complete the task beinggreater than a threshold amount of the users to be provided with aprimary award, the probabilities that the individual virtual chanceitems will provide a secondary award upon activation may initially be anon-zero value.

The completion determination module may be configured to determinecompletion of the task by individual ones of the users. In someimplementations, the completion determination module may be configuredto determine the amount of the users that complete the task.

The item distribution module may be configured to distribute the virtualchance items to the users that complete the task responsive to theseusers completing the task. For example, responsive to the first usercompleting the task, the first virtual chance item may be distributed tothe first user.

The game module may be configured to provide the virtual awards to theusers in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtualchance items in response to the users activating the virtual chanceitems. For example, responsive to the first user activating the firstvirtual chance item, a first award is provided to the first user inaccordance with the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chanceitem.

In certain implementations, the item manager module may be configured tomodify the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items that havebeen distributed to users based on the virtual awards provided to otherones of the users through the virtual chance items. For example, theprobabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item may be modifiedafter the distribution to the first user responsive to other usersactivating other ones of the virtual chance items to obtain the virtualawards. In various implementations, the item manager module may beconfigured such that the probabilities assigned to the first virtualchance item may be modified based on a threshold amount of the users tobe provided with a primary award.

In some implementations, the award administration module may beconfigured to obtain inputs from an administrator to implement one ormore of: adding of tasks, the virtual chance items, and/or the virtualawards; modifying of the tasks, the virtual chance items, and/or thevirtual awards; or removing of the tasks, the virtual chance items,and/or the virtual awards.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present invention,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to facilitate incentivized taskcompletion using chance-based awards, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate probabilities that are initially assigned tovirtual chance items and the probabilities as modified based on virtualawards provided to users through the virtual chance items, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for facilitating incentivized taskcompletion using chance-based awards, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for determining probabilities associatedwith virtual awards of a virtual chance item, in accordance with one ormore implementations.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for modifying probabilities assigned to avirtual chance item, in accordance with one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured to facilitate incentivizedtask completion using chance-based awards, in accordance with one ormore implementations. In exemplary implementations, virtual chance itemsmay be distributed to users that complete a task responsive to theseusers completing the task. The task may, for instance, be included in agame provided within a game space to be performed by users of the gamespace. Completing a task may, for instance, include performing one ormore actions and/or refraining from performing one or more actions.

Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to beactivated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in thegame space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awardsand one or more secondary awards. Probabilities that the individualvirtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondaryaward upon activation may be determined to compose the virtual chanceitems. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordancewith the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in responseto the users activating the virtual chance items. By way of example,responsive to a first user completing the task, a first virtual chanceitem may be distributed to the first user. Responsive to the first useractivating the first virtual chance item, a first award may be providedto the first user in accordance with the probabilities assigned to thefirst virtual chance item. Accordingly, users that completed the taskmay receive a virtual chance item that may, upon activation by theusers, provide them with a virtual award even when they do not “win” aprimary award (e.g., the virtual chance item may provide them with asecondary award). As compared with typical games, such an approach may,for instance, reduce the number of users that are discouraged when theydo not win, mitigate the level of discouragement when they do not win,increase the incentive to continue completing tasks in a game, and/orother benefits.

In some implementations, system 100 may include one or more servers 102.Server(s) 102 may be configured to communicate with one or more clientcomputing platforms 104 according to a client/server architecture. Theusers may access system 100 via client computing platforms 104, forinstance, to interact with one or more services.

Server(s) 102 may be configured to execute one or more computer programmodules to facilitate incentivized task completion using chance-basedawards. The computer program modules may include one or more of a gamemodule 106, an item manager module 108, a completion determinationmodule 110, an item distribution module 112, an award administrationmodule 114, and/or other modules. In some implementations, clientcomputing platforms 104 may be configured to execute one or morecomputer program modules that are the same as or similar to the computerprogram modules of server(s) 102 to facilitate incentivized taskcompletion using chance-based awards.

Game module 106 may be configured to execute an instance of a gamespace. In some implementations, the game space may be a virtual space.An instance of the game space may be an instance of the virtual space.An instance of the virtual space may be executed by computer modules todetermine views of the virtual space. The views may then be communicated(e.g., via streaming, via object/position data, and/or otherinformation) from server(s) 102 and/or other sources to client computingplatforms 104 for presentation to users. The view determined andtransmitted to a given client computing platform 104 may correspond to auser character being controlled by a user via client computing platform104. The view determined and transmitted to a given client computingplatform 104 may correspond to a location in the virtual space (e.g.,the location from which the view is taken, the location the viewdepicts, and/or other locations), a zoom ratio, a dimensionality ofobjects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters. One or more of theview parameters may be selectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 104)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may include a 2-dimensional topography.In other instances, the topography may include a 3-dimensionaltopography. The topography may include dimensions of the space, and/orsurface features of a surface or objects that are “native” to the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instanceexecuted by the computer modules may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which views of the virtual spaceare provided is not intended to be limiting. The virtual space may beexpressed in a more limited, or more rich, manner. For example, viewsdetermined for the virtual space may be selected from a limited set ofgraphics depicting an event in a given place within the virtual space.The views may include additional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-storedvideo content, and/or other content) that describes particulars of thecurrent state of the place, beyond the relatively generic graphics. Forexample, a view may include a generic battle graphic with a textualdescription of the opponents to be confronted. Other expressions ofindividual places within the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space, users may controlcharacters, objects, simulated physical phenomena (e.g., wind, rain,earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or other elements within thevirtual space to interact with the virtual space and/or one another. Theuser characters may include avatars. As used herein, the term “usercharacter” may refer to an object (or group of objects) present in thevirtual space that represents an individual user. The user character maybe controlled by the user with which it is associated. The usercontrolled element(s) may move through and interact with the virtualspace (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space, other objects inthe virtual space). The user controlled elements controlled by and/orassociated with a given user may be created and/or customized by thegiven user. The user may have an “inventory” of virtual goods and/orcurrency that the user can use (e.g., by manipulation of a usercharacter or other user controlled element, and/or other items) withinthe virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space bycontrolling one or more of the available user controlled elements in thevirtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputs and/orcommands input by the users through client computing platforms 104. Theusers may interact with one another through communications exchangedwithin the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more oftextual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications,and/or other communications. Communications may be received and enteredby the users via their respective client computing platforms 104.Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users throughserver(s) 102.

Game module 106 may be configured such that a game may be providedwithin the game space to users of the game space. The users may includea first user. The game may include a task to be performed by the users.As indicated, completing a task may include performing one or moreactions and/or refraining from performing one or more actions. By way ofexample, tasks may include signing into a game during an event,purchasing and/or trading virtual goods, purchasing and/or tradingvirtual currency, playing mini-games within a game, building structures,training troops, collecting resources, establishing relationships withother users, attacking the enemy, defending from attacks, refrainingfrom attacking others, competing in a tournament, and/or other taskswith respect to the game space.

Item manager module 108 may be configured to compose a plurality ofvirtual chance items. The virtual chance items include a first virtualchance item. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may beconfigured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtainvirtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one ormore primary awards and one or more secondary awards. In certainimplementations, item manager module 108 may be configured such that thevirtual chance items may be virtual goods. The virtual goods may bepurchasable and/or tradable within the game space.

In some implementations, item manager module 108 may be configured suchthat the primary awards may be individually greater in value thanindividual ones of the secondary awards with respect to one or morecriteria associated with the game space. For example, the criteria mayinclude an amount of currency needed to purchase a virtual award, anamount of resources needed to obtain a virtual award, a rarity in thegame space that is associated with a virtual award, a rating associatedwith a virtual award, an advantage that a virtual award provides overother virtual awards in the game space, a prestige associated with avirtual award, and/or other criteria. In one use case, each virtualaward that is labeled as a primary award with respect to a virtualchance item typically costs a greater amount of virtual currency topurchase than a virtual award that is labeled as a secondary award withrespect to the virtual chance item.

By way of example, virtual awards that may be provided through thevirtual chance items may include virtual goods, virtual currency, accessto an area of the game space (e.g., that is typically difficult to gainaccess to, that was not previously available to a user, etc.), advancingof research (e.g., to develop skills, to improve technology, to buildcertain structures, etc.), gaining of character units, training ofcharacter units, creation of new relationships, and/or other virtualawards.

Item manager module 108 may be configured such that composing thevirtual chance items may include determining probabilities that theindividual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or asecondary award upon activation. In certain implementations, composingthe virtual chance items may include assigning the determinedprobabilities to the individual virtual chance items. In someimplementations, the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance itemsmay be determined based on an amount of the users that complete thetask. An amount may, for instance, be a percentage, a number, and/orother indicators of amounts.

For example, FIG. 2A illustrates probabilities that are initiallyassigned to virtual chance items, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. As shown by FIG. 2A, user interface 200 may provide anadministrator or users with information of tasks that have beencompleted by one or more of the users. An administrator or the users mayutilize drop-down menu 202 to select task information that they wish tosee. As depicted in window 204, 100 users have completed Task X. In onescenario, 10 primary awards (e.g., 5 units of Primary Award A and 5units of Primary Award B) may be designated for completion of Task X. Assuch, in response to an expiring of a threshold time to complete Task Xand the 100 users completing Task X, a total of 10 primary awards and 90secondary awards (e.g., 45 units of Secondary Award A and 45 units ofSecondary Award B) may be made available so that each of the 100 usersmay be provided with a virtual award upon their activation of theirvirtual chance items. Thus, based on the 100 users completing Task X, a5% probability may be assigned to Primary Award A, a 5% probability maybe assigned to Primary Award B, a 45% probability may be assigned toSecondary Award A, and a 45% probability may be assigned to SecondaryAward B.

In some implementations, item manager module 108 may be configured suchthat, responsive to the amount of the users that complete the task beinggreater than a threshold amount of the users to be provided with aprimary award, the probabilities that the individual virtual chanceitems will provide a secondary award upon activation may initially be anon-zero value. The threshold amount may, for instance, be a minimumamount, a maximum amount, a particular amount, and/or other thresholdamount of users to be provided with a primary award. For example, withrespect to FIG. 2A, since 100 users completed Task X, and there are 10primary awards (e.g., 5 units of Primary Award A and 5 units of PrimaryAward B) that are available to be provided to the users that completedTask X, there is a 90% probability (e.g., a non-zero value) that a useractivating the virtual chance items associated with completing Task Xwill be provided with a secondary award (e.g., Secondary Awards A or B).

Completion determination module 110 may be configured to determinecompletion of the task by individual ones of the users. In someimplementations, completion determination module 110 may be configuredto determine the amount of the users that complete the task. In one usecase, completion determination module 110 may track users as theycomplete the task and keep a record of users that have not completed thetask. Completion determination module 110 may, for instance, utilizesuch tracking and record to determine a percentage and/or a number ofusers that have completed the task.

Item distribution module 112 may be configured to distribute the virtualchance items to the users that complete the task responsive to theseusers completing the task. By way of example, responsive to the firstuser completing the task, the first virtual chance item may bedistributed to the first user. For example, referring to FIG. 2A, 100virtual chance items of Type X have been distributed to the 100 usersthat have completed Task X. In one scenario, the 100 virtual chanceitems of Type X may be distributed to the 100 users when a correspondingevent associated with Task X has ended. In another scenario, a virtualchance item of Type X may be distributed to a user as the user completesTask X. In yet another scenario, although a virtual chance item of TypeX may have been distributed to a user (e.g., immediately after the usercompletes Task X), the virtual chance item of Type X may be configuredto prevent its activation by the user to obtain a virtual award untilafter the corresponding event has ended.

Returning to FIG. 1, responsive to a virtual chance item beingdistributed to the first user, the virtual chance item may appear in aninventory associated with the user. This may include adding the virtualchance item to a collection of virtual items available for use to theuser within the game space. The virtual chance item may be carried by acharacter or group of characters under the control of the user, may bestored in a virtual location or building under the control of the user,and/or may be added to the inventory of the user in the game space inother ways. Once the virtual chance item is included in the inventory ofthe user, the virtual chance item may be used, or activated, by the userat his/her discretion. In some implementations, activation of thevirtual chance item may require the user (or a character or group ofcharacters associated with the user) to be in a certain location withinthe game space, may require use of another virtual item (e.g., as a tooland/or as a combination), may require a health, power, or skill level,and/or may have other requirements.

Game module 106 may be configured to provide the virtual awards to theusers in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtualchance items in response to the users activating the virtual chanceitems. By way of example, responsive to the first user activating thefirst virtual chance item, a first award is provided to the first userin accordance with the probabilities assigned to the first virtualchance item. For example, with respect to FIG. 2A, if one of the 100users that have been distributed a virtual chance item of Type Xactivates his/her virtual chance item of Type X, a stochastic selectionof the virtual awards may be performed in accordance with theprobabilities as shown in window 204, and the stochastically selectedvirtual award may be provided to the user.

In certain implementations, item manager module 108 may be configured tomodify the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items that havebeen distributed to users based on the virtual awards provided to otherones of the users through the virtual chance items. By way of example,the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item may bemodified after the distribution to the first user responsive to otherusers activating other ones of the virtual chance items to obtain thevirtual awards.

For example, FIG. 2B illustrates probabilities assigned to virtualchance items as modified based on virtual awards provided to usersthrough the virtual chance items, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. As depicted in updated window 206, 50 of the 100virtual chance items of Type X that were distributed to the users thatcompleted Task X have been activated. In response to the 50 activations,2 units of Primary Award A, 3 units of Primary Award B, 15 units ofSecondary Award A, and 30 units of Secondary Award B were provided tothe users that activated their respective virtual chance items of TypeX. As such, 3 units of Primary Award A, 2 units of Primary Award B, 30units of Secondary Award A, and 15 units of Secondary Award B are leftto be provided to the remaining users that have completed Task X. Thus,the probabilities have been modified such that a 6% probability may beassigned to Primary Award A, a 4% probability may be assigned to PrimaryAward B, a 60% probability may be assigned to Secondary Award A, and a30% probability may be assigned to Secondary Award B (as compared to theinitially assigned probabilities shown in window 204 of FIG. 2A).

Accordingly, as illustrated by updated window 206 of FIG. 2B, theremaining users currently have a 6%, 4%, 60%, and 30% chance ofobtaining Primary Award A, Primary Award B, Secondary Award A, andSecondary Award B, respectively, upon activation their virtual chanceitems of Type X. Such probabilities may, for instance, continue to bemodified as one or more of the remaining users are provided theirvirtual awards upon activation of their virtual chance items of Type X.In some scenarios, presentation of the updated window 206 may berequested by the users of the game space so that they can see what theircurrent probabilities are of getting a desired virtual award before theydetermine to activate their virtual chance items of Type X.

In various implementations, item manager module 108 may be configuredsuch that the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance itemmay be modified based on a threshold amount of the users to be providedwith a primary award. For example, referring to FIG. 2B, an eventassociated with Task X may have been set to give away a maximum of 10primary awards such that up to 10 users that complete Task X may beprovided with a primary award. As such, when 5 of the primary awards hadbeen provided to users (e.g., 2 units of Primary Award A and 3 units ofPrimary Award B) that already activated their virtual chance items ofType X, the probabilities associated with the primary awards of thevirtual chance items of Type X may be modified accordingly in order tomeet the maximum threshold amount. It should be noted that, in someimplementations, such modifications may be based on a threshold numberof the users to be provided with a secondary award.

In some implementations, award administration module 114 may beconfigured to obtain inputs from an administrator to implement one ormore of: adding of tasks, the virtual chance items, and/or the virtualawards; modifying of the tasks, the virtual chance items, and/or thevirtual awards; or removing of the tasks, the virtual chance items,and/or the virtual awards. In one use case, award administration module114 may provide a graphical user interface for obtaining the inputs fromthe administrator. The graphical user interface may, for instance, beutilized by the administrator to add tasks that are to be associatedwith virtual chance items and/or awards. The administrator may modifythe virtual chance items by adding primary awards and/or secondaryawards, by setting the probabilities for the various primary awardsand/or secondary awards of the virtual chance items (e.g., such thatusers are provided a primary award and/or a secondary award uponactivation of the virtual chance items in accordance with theprobabilities), etc.

Server(s) 102, client computing platforms 104, external resources 116,and/or other components may be operatively linked via one or moreelectronic communication links. For example, such electroniccommunication links may be established, at least in part, via a networksuch as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated thatthis is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of thisdisclosure includes implementations in which server(s) 102, clientcomputing platforms 104, external resources 116, and/or other componentsmay be operatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program modules. The computer programmodules may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withclient computing platform 104 to interface with system 100 and/orexternal resources 116, and/or provide other functionality attributedherein to client computing platforms 104. By way of non-limitingexample, client computing platform 104 may include one or more of adesktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a netbook, asmartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.

External resources 116 may include sources of information, hosts and/orproviders of virtual spaces outside of system 100, external entitiesparticipating with system 100, and/or other resources. In someimplementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein toexternal resources 116 may be provided by resources included in system100.

In some implementations, server(s) 102 may include an electronic storage118, one or more processor(s) 120, and/or other components. Server(s)102 may include communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange ofinformation with a network and/or other computing platforms.Illustration of server(s) 102 in FIG. 1 is not intended to be limiting.Server(s) 102 may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/orfirmware components operating together to provide the functionalityattributed herein to server(s) 102. For example, server(s) 102 may beimplemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together asserver(s) 102.

Electronic storage 118 may include electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information. In some implementations, theelectronic storage media of electronic storage 118 may include one orboth of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantiallynon-removable) with server(s) 102 and/or removable storage that isremovably connectable to server(s) 102 via, for example, a port (e.g., aUSB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.).Electronic storage 118 may include one or more of optically readablestorage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storagemedia (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.),electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.),solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or otherelectronically readable storage media. Electronic storage 118 mayinclude one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, avirtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources).Electronic storage 118 may store software algorithms, informationdetermined by processor(s) 120, information received from server(s) 102,information received from client computing platforms 104, and/or otherinformation that enables server(s) 102 and/or client computing platforms104 to function as described herein. It should be noted that, in certainimplementations, electronic storage 118 may be a part of server(s) 102,a part of a given client computing platform 104, and/or a separatecomponent of system 100.

In some implementations, processor(s) 120 is configured to provideinformation processing capabilities in server(s) 102. As such,processor(s) 120 may include one or more of a digital processor, ananalog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, ananalog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/orother mechanisms for electronically processing information. Althoughprocessor(s) 120 is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is forillustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor(s) 120may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units maybe physically located within the same device, or processor(s) 120 mayrepresent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operatingin coordination. Processor(s) 120 may be configured to execute modules106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and/or other modules. Processor(s) 120 may beconfigured to execute modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and/or othermodules by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software,hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuringprocessing capabilities on processor(s) 120. As noted, in certainimplementations, a given client computing platform 104 may include oneor more computer program modules that is the same as or similar to thecomputer program modules of server(s) 102. Client computing platform 104may include one or more processors that are the same or similar toprocessor(s) 120 of server(s) 102 to execute such computer programmodules of client computing platform 104.

It should be appreciated that although modules 106, 108, 110, 112, and114 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a singleprocessing unit, in implementations in which processor(s) 120 includesmultiple processing units, one or more of modules 106, 108, 110, 112,and/or 114 may be located remotely from the other modules. Thedescription of the functionality provided by the different modules 106,108, 110, 112, and/or 114 described below is for illustrative purposes,and is not intended to be limiting, as any of modules 106, 108, 110,112, and/or 114 may provide more or less functionality than isdescribed. For example, one or more of modules 106, 108, 110, 112,and/or 114 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality maybe provided by other ones of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, and/or 114. Asanother example, processor(s) 120 may be configured to execute one ormore additional modules that may perform some or all of thefunctionality attributed below to one of modules 106, 108, 110, 112,and/or 114.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for facilitating incentivized taskcompletion using chance-based awards, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. The operations of method 300 presented below areintended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method 300 may beaccomplished with one or more additional operations not described,and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally,the order in which the operations of method 300 are illustrated in FIG.3 and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method 300 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 300 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 300.

At an operation 302, an instance of a game space may be executed.Operation 302 may be performed by a game module that is the same as orsimilar to game module 106, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 304, presentation of views of the game space to usersmay be facilitated. The game space may be configured to facilitateinteraction of the users with the game space and/or each other. Forexample, the game space may be configured to facilitate the interactionsby performing operations in the game space in response to commandsreceived from the users. Operation 304 may be performed by a game modulethat is the same as or similar to game module 106, in accordance withone or more implementations.

At an operation 306, composing of a plurality of virtual chance itemsmay be initiated. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may beconfigured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtainvirtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one ormore primary awards and one or more secondary awards. In someimplementations, the virtual chance items may be virtual goods. Forexample, the virtual chance items may be virtual goods that arepurchasable and/or tradable within the game space. In certainimplementations, the primary awards may be individually greater in valuethan individual ones of the secondary awards with respect to one or morecriteria associated with the game space. Operation 306 may be performedby an item manager module that is the same as or similar to item managermodule 108, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 308, users that have completed a task may be determined.For example, the task may be included in a game provided within the gamespace to be performed by the users of the game space. The task may, forinstance, be associated with a reward. In some implementation, the taskmay be presented to users of the game space as being associated with thereward, for instance, to incentivize the users to complete the task.Operation 308 may be performed by a completion determination module thatis the same as or similar to completion determination module 110, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 310, probabilities that the individual virtual chanceitems will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award uponactivation may be determined. In certain implementations, the composingof the virtual chance items may include the determining of theprobabilities to be assigned to the virtual chance items. In someimplementations, the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance itemsmay be determined based on an amount of the users that complete thetask. An amount may, for instance, be a percentage, a number, and/orother indicators of amounts. In various implementations, theprobabilities assigned to the virtual chance items may be based on athreshold amount of users to be provided with a primary award. In someimplementations, the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance itemsmay be based on a threshold amount of users to be provided with asecondary award. The threshold amount may, for instance, be a minimumamount, a maximum amount, a particular amount, and/or other thresholdamount of users to be provided with a primary award and/or secondaryaward. Operation 310 may be performed by an item manager module that isthe same as or similar to item manager module 108, in accordance withone or more implementations.

At an operation 312, the virtual chance items may be distributed to theusers that complete the task. As indicated, the virtual chance items maybe distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to theseusers completing the task. For example, the users of the game space mayinclude a first user. The virtual chance items may include a firstvirtual chance item. Responsive to the first user completing the task,the first virtual chance item may be distributed to the first user.Operation 312 may be performed by an item distribution module that isthe same as or similar to item distribution module 112, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

At an operation 314, a determination of whether a user has activated avirtual chance item may be effectuated. Operation 314 may be performedby a game module that is the same as or similar to game module 106, inaccordance with one or more implementations. Responsive to adetermination that a user has activated a virtual chance item, method300 may proceed to an operation 316.

At operation 316, virtual awards may be provided to the users that haveactivated the virtual chance items. The virtual awards may be providedto such users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to thevirtual chance items. For example, responsive to the first useractivating the first virtual chance item, a first award may be providedto the first user in accordance with the probabilities assigned to thefirst virtual chance item. Operation 316 may be performed by a gamemodule that is the same as or similar to game module 106, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for determining probabilities associatedwith virtual awards of a virtual chance item, in accordance with one ormore implementations. The operations of method 400 presented below areintended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method 400 may beaccomplished with one or more additional operations not described,and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally,the order in which the operations of method 400 are illustrated in FIG.4 and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method 400 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 400 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 400.

At an operation 402, an amount of users that have completed a task maybe determined. The task may be included in a game provided within thegame space to be performed by the users of the game space. An amountmay, for instance, be a percentage, a number, and/or other indicators ofamounts. Operation 402 may be performed by a completion determinationmodule that is the same as or similar to completion determination module110, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 404, a threshold amount of users to be provided with aprimary award may be determined. In some implementations, a thresholdamount of users to be provided with a secondary award may be determined.The threshold amount may, for instance, be a minimum amount, a maximumamount, a particular amount, and/or other threshold amount of users tobe provided with a primary award and/or secondary award. Operation 404may be performed by an item manager module that is the same as orsimilar to item manager module 108, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 406, a first virtual chance item may be composed. Thefirst virtual chance item may be composed by determining probabilitiesthat the first virtual chance item will provide a primary award and/or asecondary award to a first user upon activation of the first virtualchance item by the first user. Such probabilities may, for instance, bedetermined based on the amount of the users that have completed thetask, the threshold amount of users to be provided with a primary award,and/or the threshold amount of users to be provided with a secondaryaward. In some implementations, responsive to the amount of the usersthat complete the task being greater than a threshold amount of theusers to be provided with a primary award, the probabilities that avirtual chance item will provide a secondary award to a user uponactivation of the virtual chance item by the user may initially be anon-zero value. Operation 406 may be performed by an item manager modulethat is the same as or similar to item manager module 108, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for modifying probabilities assigned to avirtual chance item, in accordance with one or more implementations. Theoperations of method 500 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some implementations, method 500 may be accomplishedwith one or more additional operations not described, and/or without oneor more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in whichthe operations of method 500 are illustrated in FIG. 5 and describedbelow is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method 500 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 500 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 500.

At an operation 502, a determination of whether a first user hascompleted a task may be effectuated. Operation 502 may be performed by acompletion determination module that is the same as or similar tocompletion determination module 110, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. Responsive to a determination that the first user hascompleted the task, method 500 may proceed to an operation 504.

At operation 504, a first virtual chance item may be distributed to thefirst user. The first virtual chance item may, for instance, be assignedprobabilities that the first virtual chance item will provide a primaryaward and/or a secondary award upon activation of the first virtualchance item by the first user. Operation 504 may be performed by an itemdistribution module that is the same as or similar to item distributionmodule 112, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 506, a determination of whether other users haveactivated other virtual chance items may be effectuated. The othervirtual chance items may, for instance, be a part of the virtual chanceitems that are provided to the users that complete the task responsiveto these users completing the task. Operation 506 may be performed by agame module that is the same as or similar to game module 106, inaccordance with one or more implementations. Responsive to adetermination that other users have activated other virtual chanceitems, method 500 may proceed to an operation 508.

At operation 508, the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chanceitem may be modified. For example, the probabilities assigned to thefirst virtual chance item may be modified after the distributionresponsive to other users activating other ones of the virtual chanceitems to obtain the virtual awards. In various implementations, theprobabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item may be modifiedbased on a threshold amount of users to be provided with a primaryaward. In some implementations, the probabilities assigned to the firstvirtual chance item may be modified based on a threshold amount of usersto be provided with a secondary award. Operation 508 may be performed byan item manager module that is the same as or similar to item managermodule 108, in accordance with one or more implementations.

Although the present invention has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for facilitating incentivized action performance using chance-based awards, the system comprising: one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: execute an instance of a game space, and to facilitate presentation of views of the game space to users, wherein the users include a first user; determine performance of a prescribed action by individual ones of the users; distribute virtual chance items to inventories of virtual items usable in the online game associated with the individual ones of the users that perform the prescribed action responsive to these users performing the prescribed action such that, responsive to the first user performing the prescribed action, the first virtual chance item is distributed to a first inventory of virtual items usable in the online game by the first user, wherein individual ones of the virtual chance items are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space, and wherein the virtual awards are provided to the users in accordance with probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items such that, responsive to the first user selecting the first virtual chance item from among the virtual items in the first inventory to initiate activation of the first virtual chance item, a first award is determined for the first user in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item and provided to the first user in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items are determined based on an amount of the users the perform the prescribed action.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to modify the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items that have been distributed to users based on the virtual awards provided to other ones of the users through the virtual chance items such that the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item are modified after the distribution to the first user responsive to other users activating other ones of the virtual chance items to obtain the virtual awards.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions such that the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item are modified based on a threshold amount of the users to be provided with a primary award.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions such that, responsive to the amount of the users that perform the prescribed action being greater than a threshold amount of the users to be provided with a primary award, the probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a secondary award upon activation are initially a non-zero value.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the primary award is greater in value than the secondary award with respect to one or more criteria associated with the game space.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual chance items are virtual goods that are purchasable and/or tradable within the game space.
 8. The system of claim 1, where in the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to obtain inputs from an administrator to implement one or more of: adding of prescribed actions, the virtual chance items, and/or the virtual awards; modifying of the prescribed actions, the virtual chance items, and/or the virtual awards; or removing of the prescribed actions, the virtual chance items, and/or virtual awards.
 9. A method for facilitating incentivized action performance using chance-based awards, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, the method comprising: executing an instance of a game space; facilitating presentation of views of the game space to users, wherein the users include a first user; determining performance of a prescribed action by individual ones of the users; distributing virtual chance items to inventories of virtual items usable in the online game associated with the individual ones of the users that perform the prescribed action responsive to these users performing the prescribed action such that, responsive to the first user performing the prescribed action, the first virtual chance item is distributed to a first inventory of virtual items usable in the online game by the first user, wherein individual ones of the virtual chance items are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space; and providing the virtual awards to the users in accordance with probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items such that, responsive to the first user selecting the first virtual chance item from among the virtual items in the first inventory to initiate activation of the first virtual chance item, a first award is determined for the first user in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item and provided to the first user in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items are determined based on an amount of the users that perform the prescribed action.
 11. The method of claim 9, comprising modifying the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items that have been distributed to users based on the virtual awards provided to other ones of the users through the virtual chance items such that the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item are modified after the distribution to the first user responsive to other users activating other ones of the virtual chance items to obtain the virtual awards.
 12. The method of claim 11, where in the probabilities assigned to the first virtual chance item are modified based on a threshold amount of the users to be provided with a primary award.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein, responsive to the amount of the users that perform the prescribed action being greater than a threshold amount of the users to be provided with a primary award, the probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a secondary award upon activation are initially a non-zero value.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the primary award is greater in value than the secondary award with respect to one or more criteria associated with the game space.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the virtual chance items are virtual goods that are purchased and/or tradable within the game space.
 16. The method of claim 9, comprising receiving inputs from an administrator to implement one or more of: adding of prescribed actions, the virtual chance items, and/or virtual awards; modifying of the prescribed actions, the virtual chance items, and/or virtual awards; or removing of the prescribed actions, the virtual chance items, and/or virtual awards. 